Aglaonema plant named ‘Calypso’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Aglaonema  plant named ‘Calypso’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching plant form; vigorous growth habit; freely clumping habit; full, dense and bushy appearance; large glossy and twisting oblong leaves with acuminate apices; upper leaf surfaces dark green in color with gray green-colored chevrons interspersed with distinct golden yellow spots and blotches; lower leaf surfaces pale green in color with ivory white-colored midrib, spots and splashes; pale yellow to ivory white-colored leaf petioles; petiole wings with sparse and random green-colored spots; and tolerance to low temperatures.

Botanical designation: Aglaonema hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Calypso’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant, botanically known as Aglaonema hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Calypso’.

The new Aglaonema is the result of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Aglaonema cultivars with compact and dense plant habit, unique leaf coloration, interesting leaf shapes, resistance to pathogens and pests common to Aglaonemas and tolerance to low temperatures.

The new Aglaonema originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors on Sep. 9, 1988 of a proprietary selection of Aglaonema hybrida identified as code number KSG 86-28, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed selection of Aglaonema tricolor (Nicolson) Jervis, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Aglaonema was discovered and selected by the Inventors in 1989 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India. The new Aglaonema was selected on the basis of its plant habit, leaf shape and uniquely colored foliage.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by divisions and cuttings since September, 1990 in a controlled environment in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, has shown that the unique features of this new Aglaonema are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Calypso’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Calypso’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly arching plant form.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely clumping habit; full, dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Large glossy and twisting oblong leaves with acuminate         apices.     -   5. Unique leaf coloration; upper leaf surfaces dark green in         color with gray green-colored chevrons interspersed with         distinct golden yellow spots and blotches; lower leaf surfaces         pale green in color with ivory white-colored midrib, spots and         splashes.     -   6. Pale yellow to ivory white-colored leaf petioles; petiole         wings with sparse and random green-colored spots.     -   7. Tolerant to low temperatures.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventors in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more freely clumping than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Aglaonema were broader than         leaves of plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the female parent selection         differed in leaf and leaf petiole coloration.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventors in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more freely clumping than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Aglaonema were broader than         leaves of plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the male parent selection         differed in leaf and leaf petiole coloration.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can be compared to plants of the cultivar Camouflage, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,573. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the Aglaonema cultivar Camouflage in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Aglaonema were broader and had         more acuminate apices than leaves of plants of the cultivar         Camouflage.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar Camouflage         differed in leaf coloration as plants of the cultivar Camouflage         had tri-colored leaves with contrasting dark and mid-green         chevrons on a light green background with random dark and         mid-green spots and flecks and dark green-colored margins.

Plants of the new Aglaonema can also be compared to plants of the cultivar B. J. Freeman, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,857. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Chamrajpet, Bangalore, India, plants of the new Aglaonema differed from plants of the Aglaonema cultivar B. J. Freeman in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more outwardly arching than         plants of the cultivar B. J. Freeman.     -   2. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more freely clumping than         plants of the cultivar B. J. Freeman.     -   3. Plants of the new Aglaonema had smaller leaves than plants of         the cultivar B. J. Freeman.     -   4. Plants of the new Aglaonema and the cultivar B. J. Freeman         differed in leaf and leaf petiole coloration as plants of the         cultivar B. J. Freeman had darker green-colored leaves and         green-colored leaf petioles.     -   5. Plants of the new Aglaonema were more low temperature         tolerant than plants of the cultivar B. J. Freeman.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Aglaonema, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Aglaonema. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Calypso’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Calypso has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Aglaonema that were grown in 25-cm containers, in Homestead, Fla., in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse with light levels about 2,500 foot-candles. During the production of the plants, temperatures ranged from 2 to 43° C. Plants used for the photograph and description were about 14 months from planting. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Aglaonema hybrida cultivar Calypso. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Aglaonema             hybrida identified as code number KSG 86-28, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Aglaonema             tricolor (Nicolson) Jervis, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By divisions.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 18 to 20 days at 25 to             36° C. Winter: About 30 to 35 days at 15 to 28° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant.—Summer: About 30 to 35 days             at 25 to 36° C. Winter: About 40 to 45 days at 15 to 28° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous, fleshy; off-white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely-branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Erect when young, becoming outwardly arching as             leaves develop; inverted triangle, symmetrical and uniform.         -   Vigor/growth rate.—Vigorous; relatively rapid growth rate.             Plant size appropriate for 25-cm containers.         -   Growth habit.—Freely clumping habit; plants typically             produce above five to six offshoots per plant; full, dense             and bushy appearance.         -   Plant height.—About 41 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 57 cm.         -   Stem description.—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About             2.4 cm. Internode length: About 1.3 cm. Aspect: Upright.             Strength: Good. Color: 147A with random spots, close to             144A.         -   Foliage description.—Appearance: Single; clasping. Length:             About 26 cm. Width: About 11.5 cm. Shape: Oblong. Apex:             Acuminate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Orientation:             Initially upright to roughly horizontal; twisting. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; thick, leathery;             rugose. Veins: Recessed on upper surface and prominent on             lower surface. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: 144A; chevrons, spots and splashes,             close to 148C to 148D; venation, similar to lamina.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147C; venation,             close to 144D. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Ground             color, darker green than 147A; chevrons, darker green than             194A; random spots and splashes, darker green than 194A or             close to 150C; venation, similar to lamina. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Ground color, close to 147A;             venation, along veins and random spots and splashes, close             to 145D to close to 157C. Petiole: Aspect: Bent outwardly.             Length: About 10.25 cm. Diameter, distal: About 2 cm.             Diameter, proximal: About 6 mm. Wing length: About 8.4 cm.             Wing diameter: About 7.5 mm. Color: Developing leaves,             petiole and wing: Close to 144D. Fully expanded leaves,             petiole: Close to 157C. Fully expanded leaves, wing: Close             to 157C; random spots, close to 147A. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescence development has not been     observed on plants of the new Aglaonema grown under shadehouse     production conditions. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have been     observed to be resistant to pathogens common to Aglaonema such as     Xanthomonas and Phytophthora. Plants of the new Aglaonema have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to     Aglaonema. -   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Aglaonema have been observed to     be tolerant to wind, rain and temperatures ranging from 2 to 43° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant named ‘Calypso’, as illustrated and described. 